Ko model



No. 752.460. PATBNTEDAPBB. 16, 1904. L. J. MAUTNER. HEIN@ MBCHANISM PoR SHIPS GUNS.l

A PPLIOATION FILED JUNE 4, 1903. No Mom?. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED PEB. 16, V1904.

1;. J. MAUTNBR. FIRING MBGH-ANISM PoR SHIPS GUNS.

lAPPLHLLYHO'N FILED JUNI: 4, 190s.

. 4 sHEETs'-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.'

- wf/Wwf, A 7 r/m@ 'il' 'I' u'll PATENTED `FEB. 16, 1904'.

FIING MEGHANISMPDR SHIPS" GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1903.

'4 SHEETS-@HEBT s.

H0 MODEL.

mf 77M a( AW* /WTORA/EKGMT PATENTED FEB. 16, 1904.

L. J. MAUTNER. l PIRING' MECHANISM FOR SHIPS GUNS.

` lAPPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

no. ateneo.

narran e STATES h, Patented February 16, $04.

.LUDWIG Joslin MAUTNER, or v1ENNA,'AU sTRIA-HUNenRY.

i Famine meel-ramena son SHIPS GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,460, dated February 16,1904,

Application lerl June 4, 19.03. Serial No.v 160,116.l (No model.)

To all cham #may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG JOSEF MAU'r-,

NER, Ritter von Markhof, doctor of philosophy, gentleman, a subject ofthe Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Vienna, in the Empire Aof Austria-Hungary, have invented ,i

certain new and useful Improvements `'in and Relating to Firing Mechanism for Ships Guns, of which the following is. a full, `clear,

and exact description, su'ch as willenahle othersI skilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention has for `its object an ele'ctrical firing mechanism for ships` guns of 'all kinds, including howitzers and mortars, which only permits or causes .the shot to be fired j when the gun has exactly the proper eleva-A tion corresponding toits distance. from the target, no matter to what extent the vessel is rocking. The arrangement of the mechanism is preferably such that although the firing mechanism is working properly the discharge is de layed, owing to defective ignition or the like. The moment o'firing is therefore not selected by the gunner; but the discharge is effected automatically at, the moment 'at which the gun, having been correctly trained in the lateral direction, attains the proper inclination to the horizon byreason of theelevation given to itv in the gun-carriagein combination with the rolling of the ship. `Unly in this manner is.

it possible to ohviate faulty elevation of a 'gun arising from movements ofthe vessel and, in fact, to actually turn these movements toraccount by causing them to supplement or complete the elevation already given to the gun in its carriage soA as to produce. thedesired elevation.

ln theaccompanying drawings, Figure l` a vertical section. FignZ is a iront elevation oi' the device which eii'eots the closing of the liringscircuit when the'corrcct elevation is attained; Fig. 3' is a sectionon the line A f-B 'of Fig. l. Fig. '1i-is aside elevation. Fig. is a plan view of the device fby means of which discharge is yprevented except at the proper time, even when the mechanism represented in "Figs, l to 4'has become operative: Figs.

6 and. 7 are side elevations viewed'from opposite sides. Fig. 8 is' ak'seetion on line G 1),'

Fig. 6, parts being shown inelevation. Fig.y

9 is a diagram of the electrical connections.

The automatic firing mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4c is loosel-ysuspended from a rod i or the like rigidly'attached to the gun-bar.- rel in such amanner that it may always be set by hand by means of a handle 1, if necessary7 assisted by itsown weight, iny a vertical plane parallel with the axis ofthe bore. of the gun.

l't is'arranged in a frame 2, suspended from the rod l, and `consists of\a casing 3, rotatahle'aroundfpivots 4, and in which asphere 6,

on the one hand, against a spring 7 the ten# sion of which may' be regulated by the screw' 8 and adjusted 'hy'thenut 9, and,`on the other hand, on an insulating-plate on a contact# downwardly, Figfl, the sphere, rolling.,to; .ward the right, hand, will pressthe spring'l/O vexactly guidedl vbetween bars 5, is loosely mounted, 'and'infits position of'repose rests,

upon the insulated contact-pee 11:.,4 terfminals 12 and lserve for the conneetionfof the wires of theeleetric circuit.` The:serew erative, as whenit isscrewed'n itietains the sphere and prevents `this l.latter pressing the spring l0 against the contact-piece 11'. A

second sphere 15] in plain'sightjifrorn .outside travels in a prolongation?ofl thecasing 3' and at the end of itstravel' strikes againsiithe'louf-A wheel hub, vwhile when Lthey arepressed t0- gether to 'such an extent that they enter the boring in the vhub' of the hand-wheel, this latter may readily bel'fd'rawn 0E the spindle.

A 14 serves for rendering the mechanism inoplhand-wheel 20, Aowing 'ftothe fact that when. they separate theyengage beneath the hand- There is also mountedupon the'bolt y18hetween the bearing 19 i and the hand-wheel 2O a ring 22, formed with a nose engaging ina pin-Wheel 23, so that this latter is advaneeda,

step upon each rotation of the hand-wheel, and an index 24 on the periphery of the pin-wheel' shows how many complete revolutions the hand-wheel has been caused to effect.

. The hand-wheel 20 constitutes ahollow cone, upon the periphery of which a continuous division in accordance with the range is marked in helical lines. Over these divisions moves the index 25, which by means ofthe pin 26 is fixed to the casing 3 and rises and falls with this casing, so that its point follows the helical line of the divisions of the hand-wheel 20. This indicating device does not constitute a portion of the invention and maybe replaced by any other appropriate device.

In the casing 3 there are arranged opposite to the contact-piece 11 two glazed openings 27 in order that the play'of the contact-spring 10 may be inspected. The frame 2i`s mounted between two adjusting-rings.

On the rear end of the sighting-bar 54, arranged in any 'convenient known manner, there is mounted within easy reach of the fingers of the m'arksmans hand resting on the handle 55 of this bar a trigger 29 in such a manner that when this latter is pulled a contact-piece 30, which is connected in series with theigniting-battery and the contact device 10 11, bears against the contact-piece 31, which is in constant connection with the second polevof the battery through an electric tiring device Z of any suitable kind, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11 If, however, the trigger 29 is notgpulled, the contact-piece 30 bears by means of the spring 35 on the spring 36, which is permanently connected, on the one hand, through the contact device 10` 11 with one pole and, on the other hand, by means of the winding of an electromagnet 33 with the other pole of the ignitingbattery. If contact is eiected'at 1Q 11 before the trigger 29 is pulled, the electromagnet 33 will be energized and attract. its armature 32, which as it comes in front of the trigger 29 prevents this latter from being pulled. If, however, the trigger 29 is pulled before contact is made atl() 11, the spring, 36 loses its connection with the contactpiece 30, the magnet 33 is cut out, and if contact is then made at 10 11 the current will be closed through the tiring device Z and the discharge will take place. Of course when vthe trigger is locked by the armature 32 in the manner indicated above if the circuit is interrupted at 10 11 'the magnet will likewise be cut out and the trigger 29 released. If this latter is still submitted to finger-pressure, the contact-pieces 30 and 31 will meet. Ignition can only take place, however, when the circuit is restablished at 10 11.

An antagonistic spring holds the armature 32 in its position of repose. The trigger 29 is rotatable around the pivot 37, which is mounted in the casing 38 'by means of the bearings 39. The spiral spring 53 serves to return the trigger 29 toits position of repose.

as already stated, is maintained uninterruptjectory ofthe projectile, an inclination to the horizontal plane equal to the required angle of elevation, sol that whatever may be the rolling of the ship carrying the gun the guiderods 5 pass through the horizontal position when the axis of the bore of the gun-f orms -zontal plane.

,allel with the axis of the bore, no change of the position of' the trunnions of the gun owing tothe movements of the vessel can, affect the inclination of the rods 5 to the horizontal and to the axis of' the bore. As soon, however, as these guide-rods'passthroilgh the horizontal position the sphere 6, assisted 'by against the contact-piece 11, whereby if the gunner, standing at the sighting-bar 54 afr he has caused the sight-line to -cover'the target, has'pulled' the trigger 29 the circuit from the igniting-battery to the; firing device Z'will If it should so happen that the spheremakes contact at 10 11 before the trigger 29 hasheen pulled, a current will pass through the contactspring 36 to the electromagnet 33, which attracts its armature, thereby locking-the trigger 29, and thus rendering the establishment of the firing-circuit through the contactpieees 30 31 impossible. The'discharge cannot', therefore, take place unless the gun is occupying the correct position. When, however, the trigger 29 man follows the target with the sighting-bar and the gun and holds his finger on the trigger discharge at the propermoment. It may,

however, happen that owing to a defect' in the charge is not effected at the proper moment at which the circuit is closed at 10 11 and 30 31 in the manner already described, but that In the first place, by the rotation of. the hand-- wheel 20 to,an extent corresponding toa given f range there isimpantedftotlie frame 3, which,-

the spring 7, presses the contactfspring 10- has been locked in this manner-and the marksy ring device or in the igniting-circuit the disa certain interval of time.elapses between this.

` edly-in a vertical plane parallel with the tra- 8o I the correct angle of elevation with the hori-A As the frame 3 lies in a vertical. plane parl be closed and' the shot automatically fired.

IOC

lio

29 and when the elevation of the gun dimihclosing of the circuit and the ignition of the the continuous rolling of the ship, to alter theelevation of the -gun to such an extent that the projectilel fired too late would miss its mark. in order to obviate this possibility, the contactfpiecel is connected with the tiring device Z bythe Winding of the electromagnet 41 and the spring 42. ln its position of repose this spring 42 rests on the contactpiece 43. lf after Contact has been established in the manner already described at l() 11 and 3() 3l. the current passes through,the magnet 41, the armature 44 and the spring 42'will be attracted, the latter sliding along and finally o? the contact-piece 43. Consequently the current can only passthrough the circuit and produce the discharge so long as the spring slides along the contact-piece 43. When the spring 42 has slid `off the contact-piece 43, however, the firing-circuit is interrupted and a delayed discharge prevented, thus retaining intact a munition which would otherwise have been expended to no purpose. The period during which the circuit 42 43 remains closed may be regulated by adjusting the contactnding along under the inclined projection y2S), raises the latter, together with they leve;` 4,4, whereby thecontact-spring 42 is returned lio its initial position, in which it makes contact with the the pin 5() comes out of contact with the inclinrd projection ou the armature 44, .permitting the same to be attracted by its magnet.

The easing 38 is completely closed by a re movable cover 56.

From the position and movement of the sphere 115 in the prolongationof the frame 3 it maybe seen whether the gnu can attainthe desired elevation with the rolling ot' the ship which is taking place. li this is not the case, the elevation of the gun in the carriage should be increased by means ot' the training mechanism in order to insure contact being made at l() il. As the adjustment of the frame 3 relati'. ly to the rod l #that is to say, tol the gun is independent ot' the adjustment ot' the gun in the carriage, the movement of the sphere 6, and consequently the correct discharge, will not be in any way inliuenced byf` this displacement ot' the gun.

As by means of thcdevlce described above the discharge can only be produced when the gun has the exact elevation desired, the marksmanship Will obviously be greatly improved.

l claim as-my inventionl. In an electric liring mechanism for guns, the combination of the gun, a structure rigidly secured tothe gun, a frame adapted to turn loosely in said structure around an axis parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun, guides 4carried by such frame, a sphere adapted to 2. In an electric'iiring mechanism for guns,

the combination of the gun, a structure rigidly secured to the gun, a frame adapted to turn loosely in said structure around an vaxis parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun, guides carried by such frame, a sphere adapted to Inovealong such guides, an, adjustable spring bearing against one side of the said sphere, a contact device on the opposite side Vof and adapted to be operated by such sphere when this latter moves in one direction along the guide, to close the tiring-circuit and means for adjusting the inclination of the said guide relatively to the guns axis, substantially as described.

3. In an electric firing mechanism for guns, the combination of the gun, a structure rigidly secured to the gun, a frame'adapted to, turn loosely in said structure around an axis parallel to the axis of the bore of the gun, guides carried by said frame, a sphere adapted to move along said guides, a contact device adapt ed to be operated by said sphere when this latter moves in one direction along the guide' 'to close the firing-circuit, a second guide parallel to the first guides and a second sphere visible from outsidev and adapted to move freely in the said vsecond guide, and means for adjusting the inclination of the said guide relatively to the Horizontal, substantially as described.

4. l an electric iiring mechanism for guns, the combination of the gun, a structure rigidly secured to the gun, a frame adapted to turn Aloosely in said structure around an axis paring-bar, =a contact apparatus in the tiring-cin' cuit in series with the said contact device operated by the sphere, and means carried by such sighting-bar for closing the said contact apparatus at the will of the marksman, substantially as described.

IOO

, the combination of the gun, a, structure rigidly' 5. in an electric firing mechanism for guns,

adjusting the inclination of the seid guide.

relatively to the horizontal, in combination with e sighting-bar, a firing-switch in the firing-circuit in series with the aforesaid contact device operated by the sphere, and means carried by such sighting-bar'ifor closing the firing-switch at the Wiil of the marksmen, agi

electromagnet adapted to be thrown into ciw cuit by the Contact device operated by the sphere, and means controlled by such electromagnet for locking the firing-switchin its open position, substantially as described'.

6. In an electric firing mechanism for guns, a firing-circuit, means for closing the saine, e contact device in such circuit, an electro- 1 cogeco magnet 41 adapted. to be energized by closing such circuit, and en armature adapted to'ke moved by such electromagnet when energized, said armature in its movement adapted to open the firing-circuit, substantially as and for the purpose described. Y Y

7. In an electric firing mechanism for guns, a liring-circuit, -zi icver for closing 'the same, a contact device in such circuit, an electromagct 41 adapted to' be eneflgzcd lley closing such'circuit and an armature Adapted to be moved by such electromagnet when energized and to open then the said .contact device, en inciined projection on such armature,- e. pin on the said lever adapted to engage with such inclined projection whereby the contact is closed es the lever is moved in its open' posi: n 

